MURPHY CHALLENGED TO JOIN CONSENSUS AGAINST FORCED CUTS.

MURPHY CHALLENGED TO JOIN CONSENSUS AGAINST FORCED CUTS.

LABOUR CUTS WOULD ADD TO UNEMPLOYMENT TOTAL

On the day that unemployment exceeded two million, the Scottish Secretary has been challenged to oppose the Labour Government’s public spending cuts which would result in a further 8,000 job losses in Scotland.

SNP Shadow Scotland Office spokesperson, Angus MacNeil MP, whose Western Isles constituency has been amongst the worst hit by lack of jobs, with a ratio of 44 applicants for each vacancy, said Mr Murphy must join the chorus opposed to the cuts. Ministers in Scotland, Northern Ireland and even Labour Ministers in Wales have already united against the cuts.

Speaking after Scottish Questions, Mr MacNeil said:

“Jim Murphy just does not get it. Even on the day that unemployment exceeded two million, and he cannot admit that Labour’s plans to slash public spending will add 8,000 to the dole queue in Scotland alone.

“The SNP may be in minority government, but Jim Murphy is in the minority on what these cuts will mean.

“Despite their political diversity, the governments of Scotland, Northern Ireland and even Labour Ministers in Wales can all see the danger and foolishness of the Treasury’s planned cuts, why on earth won’t the Scottish Secretary recognise this.

“It would be madness, in the deepest days of the Downing Street depression, at a time when we need to support the economy, to slash spending.

“Last week Gordon Brown said ‘no country in the world that is choosing to cut public spending at a time when people are in need of the help’, and he is absolutely right. Scotland is certainly not choosing these cuts - Westminster is forcing them. "The Labour party in Scotland has no place to hide now on this issue and must now get their heads out the sand and oppose these cuts."